Madrid Arrests Moroccan for Plotting Terrorist Attacks in Spain

A Moroccan national was arrested on Wednesday in Bolanos de Calatrava, near the border with Portugal, on suspicion of working to form a cell to carry out terrorist attacks in Spain.

According to security sources, another man was arrested in a raid on a warehouse and some houses in the town of 12,000. Security forces seized electronic devices, computers and information technology programs.

Witnesses said dozens of the Civil Guard's counterterrorism forces cordoned several neighborhoods in the town. Gunfire was heard in what an official source described as a “major operation against extremists.”

Mayor Miguel Angel Valverde said counterterrorism services informed him on Wednesday that they will conduct a large-scale security operation in the town without giving him any additional information.

They also asked him to call on the people to keep calm and stay in their houses.

Rumors said some people were killed and others injured during the ensuing shootout over the raid. Official sources denied the claim, saying the shootout took place only when the warehouse was stormed.

Since announcing the state of emergency in March to confront the novel coronavirus outbreak, Spanish security forces have carried out a number of operations against extremist organizations and arrested a number of terrorists, including one on Europe’s most dangerous wanted list.

The country’s interior Ministry had earlier raised the anti-terrorist units’ level of readiness in anticipation that terrorist groups may exploit the state of emergency to regroup in Spain and throughout Europe.

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